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Animals will often chew plants to get some roughage. For dogs this is because they are omnivores and actually enjoy plant foods. Plant roughage can be a good source of vitamins and can be helpful for passing food through the intestines. Cats are strictly carnivorous, but eating plants can benefit them by helping to bind hair in the stomach and carry it back out when they hack the hair out through their esophagus and mouth. However, animals also eat leaves for reasons we do not always understand. This is especially true for pets that are kept indoors most or all of the time, since they have not learned which plants taste bad and should be avoided, or they do not have enough access to plants and will chew on whatever is accessible. There are some types of decorative plants that are toxic to dogs and cats. In some cases, only mild indigestion and discomfort will result, in other cases, the toxicity can lead to more severe health problems, and even fatalities. If you are planning to br...

SIPHONAPTERA SPECIES THAT AFFECT DOGS AND CATS You are probably aware of the fact that fleas are the most common (and annoying) type of pest, responsible for the discomfort of our dogs and cats (and us). But did you know that there are over 2,000 species of fleas that exist around the world, and that there are more than 300 of these varieties that live in North America alone? These small, wingless, blood-sucking insects belong to the order Siphonaptera, so named because of their siphon-like mouthparts. All variations of flea species tend to live in their own groups, and do not mix or breed outside of their species. The different species all have a particular kind of host animal that they prefer to feed from over all others. However, while they may prefer a dog to a cat, most fleas will take blood from any animal that’s available (even a human) if they can’t find their preferred meal. Here we will discuss some of the most common flea species that you may find feeding from your pe...

Purchasing produced puppy treats is an all in or all out suggestion. "The vast majority of them are stacked with salt, sugar, additives, flavorings and hues. Pooch treats are made with a wide variety in quality and supplement content paying little heed to naming," says Dr. Donna Raditic, a board-affirmed veterinary nutritionist with Nutrition and Integrative Medicine Consultants situated in Athens, Georgia. So how might you treat your pup without giving her something that will add to weakness and corpulence? One choice is to prepare your own particular hand crafted pooch treats. It's not generally simple, particularly in case you don't know where to begin. In any case, in the event that you take after a couple of essential rules, you can make nutritious and flavorful custom made pooch treats, regardless of whether you're a novice. Make certain to converse with your veterinarian if your canine is on a unique or solution eat less carbs, says Dr. Susan Jeffrey,...

Though discouraged by many veterinarians, there are a few things you should consider before choosing to vaccinate your own dog (or cat). First, any animal can have an adverse reaction to any vaccine. The probability is small, but if it happens, your pet could be in big trouble -- fast! To see an actual case of a vaccine induced urticarial reaction in a Dachshund, look here. Adverse reactions from vaccinations are rare but do happen. The worst case scenario occurs when the dog or cat has what is termed an anaphylactic reaction. These hypersensitivity reactions cause a number of physiologic disturbances within the body that result in low blood pressure, slow heart rate and depressed breathing rate. Because the brain is starved for oxygen due to the low blood pressure, unconsciousness can occur. In thirty years of vaccinating pets nearly every day (over 200,000 doses administered!) I have witnessed three of these anaphylactic reactions. They are very scary and require immediate lif...

Dogs are known for their indiscriminate eating habits and will eat some unusual things. Some dogs have even been seen ingesting fecal material (their own or from other animals). The medical term for this act is coprophagia, and its underlying causes are numerous. In this article we will focus on coprophagia due to deficiencies in digestive enzymes. REASONS FOR COPROPHAGIA For some dogs, eating feces is a behavior learned from the littermates and/or mother. Watching other animals pick up feces and ingest it becomes a curiosity that can turn into an ingrained behavior. However, dogs that are fed a low-quality food (or an insufficient amount of food) may also resort to eating feces in an instinctual attempt to balance out a dietary deficiency. This may be further exacerbated if your dog has a digestive enzyme deficiency, because it prevents any of the food’s nutrients to be properly absorbed by the body. Basically, your dog is attempting to eat feces in the hopes to forgo starvin...

Every pooch has a unique personality, so when you’re coming up with puppy names, you should pick something special. After all, your new furry friend is an important part of your family. “We call this phenomenon anthropomorphism, where we give human characteristics to pets,” says Frank Nuessel, Ph.D., a linguistics professor at the University of Louisville and editor of NAMES: A Journal of Onomastics. “So that’s part of how dogs gain human-given names.” Ah, but when’s the last time you met a human named “Bacon?” These days, some of the trendiest names for dogs have to do with food, which makes sense to Nuessel. “It’s possible we associate food with dogs more than cats, because they’re always begging for food—going up to the table to look for it and waiting around for leftovers,” he says. We may also give our pups food-based names because they’re more fun-loving and playful than many other pets, and “Noodle” is certainly sillier—and more appropriate—for a happy-go-lucky dog than, ...

When it comes to post-operative care for pets, there's no such thing as “standard procedure.” That's because each cat and dog surgery and each pet is different. “Post-op specifics will vary depending on your pet's age and condition, as well as the exact type of surgery involved,” says Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM, an integrative veterinarian and the country’s first veterinarian to be awarded a Diplomate Certification from the American Board of Anti-Aging Medicine. In general, Osborne says, it's common for most pets to be sleepy and a bit lethargic for the first 12-24 hours after surgery—which is why it's important to let them rest and recover. If you're not sure what to expect—or even if you think you are—talking to your veterinarian can help you to figure out the right course of action. “Many well-meaning pet owners pick up their pets after surgery and then panic because they’re not sure what to do or what to expect,” Osborne says. “It’s a good idea to as...

Dogs aren't too different from us: Sometimes they’re in the mood to be touched and other times not. And just like some humans prefer a back scratch to a head rub, some dogs prefer a chin scratch to a back pat. Respecting the dog’s individuality and reading its body language are the keys to petting a dog in a way that it will enjoy. “‘Does my dog want this?’ I don't think we ask that often enough,” says Jonathan P. Klein, a Los Angeles-based certified dog trainer and behavior consultant. “The key is to develop a relationship with the dog where the dog trusts you … you can't change first impressions.” So, before you give a dog a pat, consider these tips. BEST SPOTS FOR PETTING A DOG There isn't any body area that is inherently off limits to petting, Klein says, different dogs have different preferences. However, if an otherwise docile dog lashes out when you touch a certain area, he may be injured in that spot or in pain from an illness or he may have had a bad...

Just like every other pet owner, veterinarians are responsible for giving their pets the best possible exercise, nutrition, and care needed to keep them happy and healthy. But how does their chosen profession give them a leg up on the rest of us? And are there any tips they can share for keeping our pets healthy? Here’s a look at the ways veterinarians provide a healthy lifestyle for their pets. NUTRITION AND EXERCISE Feeding your pet a well-balanced diet will help prevent obesity, and the various conditions associated with being overweight, as well as help your pet manage existing health conditions and food allergies. Fortunately, many commercial pet foods are now sophisticated enough to help maintain your pet’s health in addition to their teeth and coat, says Katie Grzyb, DVM and emergency clinician at the Veterinary Emergency and Referral Group in Brooklyn, New York. For Camille DeClementi, DVM and senior director of medical records at the ASPCA, feeding her greyhound a he...

While sharing food off our own plates is a common bonding experience between owners and a dog with really compelling “beggar” eyes, some food that we eat with no problem whatsoever can be toxic to our pets. Here are some of the most common offenders: Chocolate : Most people are aware that chocolate is bad for cats and dogs. In toxic doses, it can cause agitation, diarrhea, pacing, seizures, or even death. It is dose-dependent, meaning milk chocolate with lower cocoa percentages is less toxic than dark or baking chocolate. Raisins, grapes, and currants : For reasons still undetermined, these little fruits can lead to kidney damage. Onions and garlic: In toxic amounts, can lead to blood cell damage and subsequent anemia. Macadamia nuts: Cause neurologic signs such as wobbliness, weakness, and tremors. Bread dough: In addition to the mechanical damage of an expanding mass of dough in the stomach, fermentation produces alcohol, which can lead to intoxication. Mushrooms: ...